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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Foliage Follow Up March 2013

Survivors, Stalwarts, and Sprouters

Sempervivum 'El Toro' is both a survivor and a stalwart in my garden. I love growing these in pots!

This Coprosma got taken inside the garage on the few sub freezing days we had and came out looking happy and healthy. I've not had much luck with these wintering over for more than a few years in the ground. The foliage is sure swell!

Schefflera taiwaniana sailed through the winter with no damage at all. Now taller than I, it should be well enough established to survive a winter less kind than this one was.

The beautifully patterned leaves of cyclemen that have decorated the shade beds all winter still look great!

Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' is a favorite of mine and also of slugs.

Berberis 'Orange Rocket' emerging from his winter sleep.

A fun Japanese groundcover that I got at Far Reaches a few years ago and promptly forgot the name of emerging from the ground.

Trillium something or other.﻿

More trillium and a couple of nice examples of Taraxacum officinale in the lower left and upper right.

Cardiocrinum giganteum

All that stuff on the ground that looks like the gardener is too lazy to rake up the leaves and tidy the beds is actually organic mulch utilized to help build the soil, increase microbial activity, feed the earthworms, eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers, decrease my carbon footprint, and basically save the whole planet. Sloth to savior in one sentence.

Podophyllum delavayi.

I've got a serious crush on Podophyllums so they'll probably get their own post one of these days.

So much is happening in gardens in our region this time of the year. It's an exciting time. For even more excitement, check out Digging to see beautiful foliage from all over the world! You might bump in to Pam Penick there. Yes, THAT Pam Penick , the author, blogger, designer, host of foliage follow up, and all around talented lady! Don't be intimidated, she's very nice. Just click on over and say hi!

Do you ever have slug issues with your podophyllums? I am worried about mine. Yay for Schefflera taiwaniana! I moved mine last week, I was very worried but so far it looks to be okay. (fingers crossed)

Slug buffet time - they LOVE podophyllums! I grow some of these in pots and it is only there that I use poison because the slugs like to live beneath the pots and dine at will. Everywhere else I use sluggo.

"From sloth to savior in one sentence." hahahaI'm going to look for that spider web Fatsia. I've grown only the plain green and I love white/grey foliage.The nameless Japanese ground cover is fabulous! Maybe the name will surface one of these days ...

Tehe Podopyllum are intriguing. Love your 'save the world' posturing - I'm going to adopt your perfect rationale for use at Longview Ranch as needed. And always nice to see the dandelions get their due. They are some of the most robust growers this month in my garden too!

About Me

Why Outlaw Gardener? I like to break the rules of good taste, plant placement, and plant hardiness. Also, I have received periodic "love notes" from the city code enforcement officer telling me that my parking strip plants encroach on the city's right-of-way. When expressing my distress over the latest such notice, I exclaimed to my pal Loree (Danger Garden) "I'm an outlaw gardener!" To which she replied,"That would be a good name for a blog."
My first gardens were in Southeast Alaska (zone 3.)I do miss the beauty and community of small-town Alaska but I don't take for granted for a moment how wonderful it is to garden in zone 8.